Note for grammar geeks (I know you’re out there!): “Όταν” is a temporal conjunction, this is why it’s used for connecting sentences.

#4 Simple Past vs Past Continuous in Greek (Αόριστος vs Παρατατικός)

So here’s the story with these two tenses:

α) Past Continuous keeps the “stem” from the Present tense.

β) Simple past has a “stem”, a part of its own.

Let’s take the verb τρώω (to eat), for example.

It usually comes naturally to use the Present tense stem “τρώ-” in the past tense. And this is correct, it is a Past tense.

Just probably not the one you wanted to use.

“Τρώ-” gives us “έτρωγα” (I was eating). This is the Past Continuous. In short, we use it for narrations, habits, to state a specific duration of time and with words or phrases such as όλη τη μέρα (all day), κάθε εβδομάδα (every week) etc.

The Simple Past stem is “φαγ-”, which gives us “έφαγα”. This is what we use to talk about past, completed actions.

Example:

Έτρωγα πρωινό, όταν με πήρες τηλέφωνο: this emphasizes how I was eating yesterday when I received your phone call.

Σήμερα έφαγα πρωινό στο γραφείο: this means that today I ate my breakfast at the office.

#7 Mου αρέσει (plus noun):

After learning this tip you’ll never get confused again! (I always wanted to say that about Greek Grammar.)

Μου αρέσει is always, always used with nominative. It’s very straightforward.

I can hear you saying: “Hey! Greek has 3 grammar genders X 2 grammar numbers = 6 things to choose from and you’re calling this straightforward?.”

Ehem...how about straightforward-ish?

I ‘ll rephrase. If you know what to use (masculine or feminine, plural or singular) then yes, it’s only the nominative case you have to worry about. Oh, and “μου αρέσει” for singular vs “μου αρέσουν” for plural. (Sorry! But I know you got this.)

Example:

Μου αρέσει ο καφές. (I like coffee)

Μου αρέσει η ζεστή σοκολάτα. (I like hot chocolate)

Μου αρέσουν τα πορτοκάλια. ( I like oranges)

Μου αρέσουν οι λουκουμάδες. ( I like doughnuts - loukoumades)

#8 Stress/ accent: τόνος

Note: I’ll simply use the word “stress” here, to avoid confusion with the Greek accent.

Not knowing which syllable to stress, is a common problem. Especially if you’re used to stress only one syllable in your language, as in French for example, where the stress is on the last syllable. It’s true, it can take time to train your ear.

There are two golden rules however:

α) one-syllable words are never stressed, except for: ή (as a disjunctive) πού and πώς in a direct or indirect question

β) there’s never a stress beyond the 3rd syllable, counting from the last one, except from some words in dialects

Example:

Πού πας; (Where are you going?)

Θέλεις καφέ ή τσάι; (Do you want coffee or tea?)

Με ρώτησε πώς να πάει στην Αθήνα. (S/he asked me how to go to Athens)

Listening activities will greatly help you so don’t hesitate to add more if you feel that you ‘re stressing out too much. (I love puns. You can’t tell!)

#9 Confusion with the endings of nouns

This could make an article on its own, so I’m just noting one of the most common confusion about endings here.

Is it το πράγμα or η πράγμα ? And how is it in plural?

Words ending in -α are feminine and you know that already.

But sneaky neuter words end in -μα.

Example:

το πρόβλημα (the problem)

το διάλειμμα (the break/pause)

το ζήτημα (the matter/issue)

το μάθημα (the lesson)

το παράδειγμα (the example)

In plural, they will be:

τα προβλήματα

τα διαλείμματα

τα ζητήματα

τα μαθήματα

τα παραδείγματα

Pay attention, does it end in -μα or -α, next time you say or hear such a word?

#10 Translations word by word

This last one seems kind of obvious. But in reality, it’s not.

If we add the language transfer errors + our need to communicate, our attempt to translate word by word happens all too often.

There are 3 steps to make sure you avoid such errors:

α) Mimic language patterns the native speakers use

β) Be open and creative, as well as ready to challenge your mindset about expressing yourself in another language